The Smartest Places on Earth by Antoine van Agtmael & Fred Bakker Summary
Overview of The Smartest Places on Earth
Forgotten rustbelts are becoming "brainbelts" - innovation hubs where industrial skills meet academic research. From Akron to Eindhoven, this book reveals how collaborative ecosystems are revitalizing economies worldwide, challenging the notion that manufacturing regions are destined for decline.
Similar books to The Smartest Places on Earth
Feel the book through the author's voice
Turn knowledge into engaging, example-rich insights
Capture key ideas in a flash for fast learning
Enjoy the book in a fun and engaging way
Key takeaways
From Rustbelts to Brainbelts: A Hidden Revolution
Something unexpected is happening in places we've written off. Akron, Ohio. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Eindhoven, Netherlands. These former industrial powerhouses-once symbols of economic decline-are experiencing remarkable revivals. But not through government bailouts or attempts to resurrect old industries. Instead, they're transforming through collaborative innovation ecosystems that Antoine van Agtmael and Fred Bakker call "brainbelts." The conventional wisdom that manufacturing would continue fleeing America and Europe for cheaper shores began cracking around 2012. During a business trip to Asia, van Agtmael was startled when a Taiwanese executive expressed fear of American competition-a complete reversal after decades of Western businesses feeling threatened by Asian manufacturers. The executive admitted, "We're being squeezed" by American R&D capabilities that were "so far ahead." What's happening? After decades of obsession with making things cheap, the future now belongs to making things smart. Pittsburgh exemplifies this transformation. Once a steel powerhouse with over 1,000 factories, the city suffered devastating decline from 1945-1985. Today, healthcare and education drive its revival, with tech giants like Google and Uber establishing operations next to Carnegie Mellon's renowned robotics center. The pattern repeats across numerous regions-in Akron, 1,000 startups now employ more people than the four big tire companies did during manufacturing's heyday. The future belongs not to those who produce cheaply, but to those who innovate smartly.
The Power of Collaborative Ecosystems
Smart Manufacturing: Beyond Mass Production
Connectors: The Catalysts of Transformation
Legacy Industries Reborn Through Innovation
Life Sciences: The Ultimate Collaborative Field
Building Tomorrow's Economy Today
Quick Summary Mode - Read or listen to The Smartest Places on Earth Summary in 9 Minutes
Break down key ideas from The Smartest Places on Earth into bite-sized takeaways to understand how innovative teams create, collaborate, and grow.
Flash Card Mode - Top 5 Insights from The Smartest Places on Earth in a Nutshell
Distill The Smartest Places on Earth into rapid-fire memory cues that highlight Pixar’s principles of candor, teamwork, and creative resilience.
Fun Mode - The Smartest Places on Earth Lessons Told Through 23-Min Stories
Experience The Smartest Places on Earth through vivid storytelling that turns Pixar’s innovation lessons into moments you’ll remember and apply.
Personalize Mode - Read or listen to The Smartest Places on Earth Summary in 0 Minutes
Ask anything, pick the voice, and co-create insights that truly resonate with you.
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
Get the The Smartest Places on Earth summary as a free PDF or EPUB. Print it or read offline anytime.